CDMO Hovione has announced that Jean-Luc Herbeaux will succeed Guy Villax as CEO of Hovione as of April 1, 2022. Herbeaux joined Hovione as Chief Operating Officer in 2020 after having served in various executive roles at Evonik. Villax will remain a member of the company’s board of directors.
According to the announcement, the company, which offers inhalation development services and a range of DPI devices in addition to particle engineering and drug substance manufacturing, has grown tenfold under the leadership of Villax over the past 25 years. In November 2021, Hovione announced that it planned to invest $170 million to expand capacity at its manufacturing facilities by 25%, including the addition of a new building to add commercial spray drying capacity at its facility in New Jersey.
Villax commented, “It has been a privilege and honor to lead Hovione over the last decades. Hovione is a great company because of its people and its clients. It has been an amazing entrepreneurial and human journey with so many projects and unforgettable success stories. I have seen this company, founded by my parents, growing, evolving and constantly re-inventing itself. Dr. Herbeaux joined Hovione nearly two years ago as COO and from day one brought change and contributed to financial and business successes. We have worked together both on the strategy which will take Hovione to the next level and on making this transition smooth. I am certain that both the company and our team members will continue to thrive under his leadership.”
Herbeaux said, “I am honored to be entrusted with the role of Hovione’s CEO and I am deeply motivated to lead this team of talented professionals. Building on Guy Villax´s legacy of innovation and customer intimacy, we will continue to work to drive long-term growth for both ourselves and our customers maintaining the Hovione values. Hovione puts customers and patients at the center of everything it does and this focus will not change. Our customers can expect us to continue to deliver on what we promise and to offer innovative approaches to their project needs.”
Read the Hovione press release.
